Mr. William “Bud” Ritzel, age 81 passed away Friday, July 18, 2025, at Greeneville Community Hospital-East in Greeneville Tennessee.

Bud was born on September 15, 1943, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to the late William and Shirley Ives Ritzel.

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he spent the early decades of his professional life in sales, spending time in numerous cities throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Despite his success, Bud’s passion always lay in the arts. He was endowed with the rare ability to not only imagine beautiful things, but to make those visions a reality, irrespective of medium or style. As a skilled painter, sculptor, carpenter, and landscape designer, he dedicated the lion’s share of his time to these pursuits, all of which gave him immeasurable satisfaction.

Prior to moving to Tennessee, Bud spent more than a decade in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There, he worked as a school bus driver, allowing him time to indulge in his love for art and horseback riding, while being remembered by students for his wit and compassion. Even after he left Steamboat for Greeneville, his heart always remained in the Rocky Mountains.

Bud died as he lived, indulging his boundless creativity �" an artist in his beloved workshop, canvas, paint, and dog at his side.

Leaving behind an incredible oeuvre of artistic accomplishment and a life’s legacy of relentless humor, joy, curiosity, and compassion, Bud recently cited his life’s greatest accomplishment as his children. “If you ever want to make an investment in the future, make that the best job you ever do”.

Bud is survived by his children, Melissa Turner (husband, Jeff), Florida, Scott Ritzel (wife, Kate), Virginia, Marshall Ritzel, and Robin Ritzel, both of New York and Austin Ritzel (wife, Anna), Spain; grandchildren, Payton, Troy, Sam, Madison, Luke, and Blake; great-grandchildren, Micah, Ellie Lou and Juliana; and one sister, Virginia Borthwick. He also leaves behind a cherished menagerie of animals, including Beau, Simba, Boots, Lakota, Pete, Chino, Cody, and Shadow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the EQUUS Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.dillow-taylor.com

Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, TN 423-753-3821